Mélanie Joly says she won’t meet with Stelco unless layoffs ‘immediately’ undone - Toronto Star

The message comes in a letter sent by the federal industry minister to Stelco CEO Paul Simon Thursday morning, noting she is prepared to meet Simon and Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves.

The Stelco plant in Hamilton, Ontario, pictured this week. The company has issued layoff notices at its steel plant as the company moves ahead with plans to lay off up to 500 workers citing the ongoing trade crisis, weak demand and continued import pressure.

With the clock running down towards a lawsuit, federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly says she’ll meet with the CEO of Stelco’s parent company only if layoffs are “immediately” undone first.

The message came in a letter sent by Joly to Stelco CEO Paul Simon Thursday morning and goes on to say she’s prepared to meet Simon and Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves if they retract hundreds of layoff notices.

“I want to be clear about the basis for that discussion. The workers who have been laid off or received layoff notices must be recalled immediately,” Joly wrote Thursday.

Joly also blasted the company’s official response to an Oct. 22 “demand letter” giving it 15 days to undo the layoffs, provide detailed information justifying the job losses, or face legal action. That 15-day waiting period expires Nov. 6.

“I have also reviewed the interim compliance report...I must be equally clear that I find the report far from satisfactory. It does not alter my belief that Stelco and Cleveland-Cliffs are not in compliance with their undertakings,” said Joly. “Assertions of compliance are not a substitute for the information and evidence necessary to establish compliance.”

Minister of Industry Melanie Joly responds to questions from journalists before a meeting of the Liberal caucus on Parliament Hill on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026.

In an emailed statement to the Star, Goncalves didn’t directly address Joly’s letter, but said the minister isn’t playing fair by suggesting Stelco could be sold as part of a potential lawsuit.

“Stelco is not for sale, and I do not believe that what Minister Joly is doing — when she openly solicits buyers for a company the government does not own — is a good course of action. In countries other than Canada, that would be illegal,” said Goncalves, adding that Joly’s actions could scare off other potential foreign investors in Canada’s economy.

“If I knew, or even suspected, that I would be subjected to this type of treatment when I make a business decision within the boundaries of undertakings that I am in full compliance, I certainly would not have invested in Canada,” said Goncalves.

He vowed not to sell the company for at least a year.

“I will not talk to any buyers, real or imaginary, now or within the next calendar year. Conversely, after we demonstrate one year of higher production numbers, and also have brought all the 175 workers back to their jobs, I will be glad to sell the company, and only if I decide to do so by then,” Goncalves added.